Elko County, Nevada

Elko County is a county in the northeastern corner of Nevada, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,702.[3] Its county seat is Elko.[4] The county was established on March 5, 1869, from Lander County.

Elko County
County
Elko County Courthouse in Elko
Elko County Courthouse in Elko
Flag of Elko County
Flag
Map of Nevada highlighting Elko County
Location within the U.S. state of Nevada
Map of the United States highlighting Nevada
Nevada's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°08′N 115°21′W
Country United States
State Nevada
Founded1869 (1869)
Named forElko
SeatElko
Largest cityElko
Area
 • Total17,203 sq mi (44,560 km2)
 • Land17,170 sq mi (44,500 km2)
 • Water33 sq mi (90 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total53,702
 • Density3.1/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zones
Majority of county [1]UTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
West Wendover[2]UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websiteelkocountynv.net

Elko County is the fourth-largest county by area in the contiguous United States, ranking lower when the boroughs of Alaska are included. It is one of only 10 counties in the U.S. with more than 10,000 square miles (25,900 km2) of area.

Elko County is part of the Elko, NV Micropolitan Statistical Area. It contains 49.8 percent of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, set up in the late 19th century for the Shoshone-Paiute peoples; they are a federally recognized tribe. Although slightly more than 50% of the reservation is across the border in Owyhee County, Idaho, the majority of tribal members live on the Nevada side. The reservation's land area is 450.391 square miles (1,166.5 km2).

History

This area was long inhabited by Native American tribes of the Plateau, particularly the Western Shoshone, Northern Paiute, and Bannock peoples. Their traditional ways were disrupted after European-American settlement, as the two cultures competed for resources and had differing conceptions of land use and property.

Elko County was established in 1869 from Lander County; the name was taken from the name of the county seat, Elko.

In 1877 what became known as the Duck Valley Indian Reservation was established by presidential executive order for the Western Shoshone in this area, after they signed treaties with the United States. Later the Paiute became involved in the Bannock War, but after they were allowed to return from exile in Washington State, in 1886 another executive order was used to expand the reservation to accommodate them. The federally recognized tribe of the two peoples together conducts farming and ranching in this high desert territory.

The population of the county increased markedly in the late 20th century as the economy improved.

On March 14, 2014, the Bureau of Land Management sold 29 oil and gas leases for $1.27 million to a collection of six companies that included Noble Energy. The transaction was the first such in Nevada.[5]

Geography
Sagebrush steppe in Elko County, Nevada along US 93. This view is characteristic of most of the county.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 17,203 square miles (44,560 km2), of which 17,170 square miles (44,500 km2) is land and 33 square miles (85 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6] Not counting Alaska's boroughs (four of which are also larger), it is the fourth-largest county in area in the United States (behind San Bernardino County, California, Coconino County, Arizona, and Nye County, Nevada).[7] The elevation ranges from about 4,300 feet (1,300 m) at the edge of the salt flats of the Great Salt Lake Desert, to 11,387 feet (3,471 m) on the summit of Ruby Dome in the Ruby Mountains.[8] The most topographically prominent mountain in Elko County is Pilot Peak.

The county has three physiographic sections (70% Great Basin section, 20% Payette, 10% Snake River Plain) and 4 watersheds (45% Humboldt River, 30% Upper Snake River, 20% central Nevada desert, 5% Pilot-Thousand Springs).

Lightning-sparked wildfires are common occurrences in Elko County.

National protected areas

Adjacent counties

Time zones
Further information: Time in Nevada

Except for West Wendover which is in the Mountain Time Zone, the county is in the Pacific Time Zone, though other communities such as Owyhee, Mountain City, Jarbidge and Jackpot unofficially observe Mountain Time as well due to their proximity to, and economic connections with, neighboring areas of Idaho.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18703,447—
18805,71665.8%
18904,794−16.1%
19005,68818.6%
19108,13343.0%
19208,083−0.6%
19309,96023.2%
194010,9129.6%
195011,6546.8%
196012,0113.1%
197013,95816.2%
198017,26923.7%
199033,53094.2%
200045,29135.1%
201048,8187.8%
202053,70210.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[3]

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families living in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2). There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.04% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 5.30% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 8.50% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. 19.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,638 households, out of which 43.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 20.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.50% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 5.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,383, and the median income for a family was $52,206. Males had a median income of $41,322 versus $24,653 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,482. About 7.00% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 48,818 people, 17,442 households, and 12,441 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 2.8 inhabitants per square mile (1.1/km2). There were 19,566 housing units at an average density of 1.1 per square mile (0.42/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 79.4% white, 5.3% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 10.3% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 22.9% of the population[14] in terms of ancestry.[16]

Of the 17,442 households, 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.7% were non-families, and 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.26. The median age was 33.4 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $67,038 and the median income for a family was $75,171. Males had a median income of $56,528 versus $34,464 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,879. About 5.8% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Government and politics

Elko is a highly conservative area. In 2011, all eleven of the partisan county officials were Republican.[18] In the 2004 Presidential Election, George W. Bush won 78% of the county's vote, while 20% voted for John F. Kerry.[19] In 2008 voters in Elko County chose John McCain by 69%, with 28% voting for Barack Obama.

Both former President Jimmy Carter and then-President George W. Bush made visits to the city of Elko during the 2006 mid-term election. William McKinley visited in 1901; Herbert Hoover made his final campaign broadcast as president from a railroad car in Elko in 1932; Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke in Carlin in 1938 during his whistle stop tour; and Barack Obama visited while campaigning in 2008. President Donald Trump arrived in Elko on October 20, 2018, to campaign for Senator Dean Heller during the 2018 midterm elections. In addition, many other high-profile political figures have come to Elko, including former Vice President Dick Cheney. In 2016 Donald Trump Jr. campaigned in Elko during the primary campaign.

United States presidential election results for Elko County, Nevada[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 16,741 76.21% 4,557 20.74% 669 3.05%
2016 13,551 73.02% 3,401 18.33% 1,607 8.66%
2012 12,014 75.15% 3,511 21.96% 461 2.88%
2008 10,969 68.47% 4,541 28.35% 509 3.18%
2004 11,938 77.98% 3,050 19.92% 321 2.10%
2000 11,025 77.75% 2,542 17.93% 613 4.32%
1996 6,512 54.92% 3,149 26.56% 2,196 18.52%
1992 5,208 43.67% 2,782 23.33% 3,936 33.00%
1988 5,722 68.35% 2,310 27.59% 340 4.06%
1984 5,110 74.48% 1,566 22.82% 185 2.70%
1980 4,393 70.89% 1,296 20.91% 508 8.20%
1976 3,293 60.32% 1,955 35.81% 211 3.87%
1972 3,886 72.59% 1,467 27.41% 0 0.00%
1968 2,687 54.48% 1,686 34.18% 559 11.33%
1964 1,856 39.99% 2,785 60.01% 0 0.00%
1960 2,427 49.31% 2,495 50.69% 0 0.00%
1956 2,981 63.20% 1,736 36.80% 0 0.00%
1952 3,104 63.88% 1,755 36.12% 0 0.00%
1948 1,683 44.63% 2,026 53.73% 62 1.64%
1944 1,642 41.87% 2,280 58.13% 0 0.00%
1940 1,783 37.15% 3,016 62.85% 0 0.00%
1936 1,065 26.94% 2,888 73.06% 0 0.00%
1932 1,325 34.09% 2,562 65.91% 0 0.00%
1928 1,876 56.54% 1,442 43.46% 0 0.00%
1924 1,113 38.81% 604 21.06% 1,151 40.13%
1920 1,369 54.30% 1,029 40.82% 123 4.88%
1916 1,072 32.01% 2,020 60.32% 257 7.67%
1912 398 19.82% 843 41.98% 767 38.20%
1908 737 44.45% 804 48.49% 117 7.06%
1904 718 54.07% 508 38.25% 102 7.68%

Transportation

A number of highways maintained by the Nevada Department of Transportation, some national in prominence, cross Elko County. The county also maintains a network of county routes; however, many of them are unpaved and receive limited, if any, winter maintenance.

Transportation by means other than road vehicle is limited within Elko County. Commercial air service is available only at the Elko Regional Airport in Elko; the only destination currently served is Salt Lake City International Airport. Other public airports in Elko County include Jackpot Airport, Owyhee Airport and Wells Municipal Airport.

Amtrak passenger service is available from the unstaffed Elko station. Service is via the California Zephyr and is either eastbound or westbound, once a day.

Major highways

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Education

Its school district is the Elko County School District.

See also

References
  1. The communities of Jackpot, Jarbidge, Mountain City, and Owyhee in northern Elko County observe Mountain Time, but only on an unofficial basis.
  2. "CFR 2013 Title 49 Volume 1 Part 71 STANDARD TIME ZONE BOUNDARIES" (PDF). www.gpo.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  3. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  4. "County Explorer". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. "shalereporter.com: "BLM sells 29 oil, gas leases in northeast Nevada"". shalereporter.com. March 14, 2014. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  7. "Elko County Public Lands Policy Plan 2008" (PDF). Elko County (Nevada). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  8. "Ruby Dome, Nevada". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  15. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  16. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  17. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  18. "Elko County elected officials" (PDF). Elko County (Nev.). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  19. "Presidential Election Results 2004". CNN. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
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